These are examples of how tour-guided weeks can be crafted
for you. We hope to accommodate you for your own custom week
at Sky Blue: artiedixon@aol.com
1. Great, Girlfriends, Guided Get-aways:
Arts & Crafts week in Little Switzerland
June 2 – 9, $600 pp (2013 )
Mountain Crafts: The Toe River Arts Council Tour weekend
Tour info: http://www.toeriverarts.org/studiotour.shtml
Tour-guided week of exploring, reading and relaxation highlighted
with mountain crafts by over 100 artisans at individual studios
during this well-known crafts celebration, June 7 – 9! Go for
the browsing, or enjoy adding to your crafts collection from one of
the premier crafts areas in the country: Mitchell and Yancey Counties.
Leave the heat of central NC behind while staying in an authentic
mountain cabin on the Continental Divide, with breathtaking views
abounding. Leave your calendar and e-mail, too, and step back to
1939, choose your outings and craft hunting for the week. Services
include accommodations, all transportation for a day in Asheville,
a late afternoon of music at the Orchard at Altapass, a walking
tour of Little Switzerland, a visit to the extraordinary Penland Craft
Gallery, time in Burnsville topped off with Dancing at Lughnasa, the
Tony Award Best Play, 1992, tells the story of 5 sisters in Ireland
when their brother returns from Africa, at the Parkway Playhouse,
Jun 6 only, pending availability. Meals for 4 days are included – see below.
Your host/guide will stay downstairs at the house. She(Artie) will be
available as needed. All taxes apply.
2. Great, Girlfriends, Guided Get-aways: Greek Cooking,
or Design Your Own week in Little Switzerland, July 12 –
19, 2013, $600 pp
Put together your own spanakopeta, bring your knitting needles,
or visit local crafts, shop, hike, play cards or Scrabble – bring on
some good old R & R! Lounge or sunbathe on the patio, hike on
nearby trails. Or choose between “shop ’til you drop,” in Asheville
with a matinee at the Fine ArtsTheater or the amazing “Mile High
Bridge” at Grandfather Mountain. See Peter Pan, J.M. Barrie’s
timeless masterpiece (July 13 only) at Brunsville’s Parkway
Playhouse, pending availability. Your accommodations are on the
Continental Divide, with breathtaking views. Leave your calendar
and e-mail behind and step back to 1939, to an authentic mountain
house where you can truly put your feet up.
Particulars
This week includes meals for 4 days and transportation to all
mentioned venues, whether or not they are used. Your week is
designed for groups of 3-4. (Optional horseback riding and one
extra night , is offered as add-ons to your itinerary. $150 pp plus tax)
Your host/guide will stay downstairs at the house and she (Artie)
will be available as needed. (All taxes apply.) artiedixon@aol.com
3. Great, Girlfriends, Guided Get-aways:
“Picture a Week” in Little Switzerland, NC
September 6 – 13, 2013, $700 pp (Crafts tour, Greek Cooking
or drawing instruction may be substituted!)
Photography: The Parkway and Pisgah National Forest
Tour-guided week of Photos and “Phun,” with discussion in the
evenings of day’s work by photographer, Artie Dixon.
Explore your creative aesthetic while continuing to develop your
skills at photography. Enjoy all this in a spectacular fall setting
and cool mountain air. Your accommodations are on the Conti-
nental Divide, with breathtaking views. Leave your calendar
and e-mail behind and step back to 1939, to an authentic mountain
house close to many photographic possibilities and outings. Services
include accommodations, all transportation for a day in Asheville, a
late afternoon of music at the Orchard at Altapass, a walking tour of
Little Switzerland, a visit to the Penland Craft Gallery, time in Burns-
ville topped off with A Few Good Men, at the Parkway Playhouse,
Sept. 7 only, pending availability. (Optional horseback riding and one
extra night including transportation to LS one-way are offered as add-ons
to your itinerary. ($125 pp add-on) Your host/ guide will stay
downstairs at the house and she(Artie) be available as needed.
(All taxes apply.) artiedixon@aol.com
Your Accommodations
Little Switzerland is just 20 minutes from the internationally known
Penland School of Crafts, 1 hour NE of Asheville or Black Mountain,
or one hour SW of Blowing Rock. Your accommodations are a stone’s
throw from the Blue Ridge Parkway and a lovely ¾ mile walk to the
quaint, downtown area.
Rooms will be chosen on a first-come-first served basis.
1. For two: BR w/2 twin beds next to a shared hall bath
2. For two: Master BR w/ view and Queen bed and ½ bath.
Occupants of this room also share hall bath as needed for
shower.
3. For 2: one BR downstairs w/double bed, private bath, and
door to patio. (We recommend the upstairs bedrooms for guests
so they can all be together; management will use the downstairs.
Reservations
Amount to reserve your week is ½ deposit from each friend.
Reservations are made for minimum of 3 friends and maximum
of four. A vacation for 3 friends: $2,100 or total of $1,900 for 2.
All taxes in apply. Please contact Artie Dixon for reservations
or more information. artiedixon@aol.com or 919-933-0020
Optional Add-ons
Transportation one-way to LS + 1 extra night, (see each write-
up for dates) ,$150 (Dinner on your own). Horseback riding, 20
minutes from the house, $35 for 1 hr. or $50 for 1 ½ hrs.
What to bring
1. Light snacks for in-between meals in the field or while in LS,
or purchase locally, as those will not be provided.
2. Flash light
3. Light jacket or sweater, umbrella or raincoat
4. Comfortable walking shoes
5. Provide your ownlunch on the Sunday of arrival.
6. Funds for 2 breakfasts, lunches and dinners out
7. Please BYOL if desired. Wine will be provided at meals.
Home-cooked choices
Meals will be prepared as per your group, not individual choice,
i.e., one group’s choice of meal per mealtime.
Breakfasts (Please select 4)
___Muffins, fruit, coffee, juice
___Fried eggs, cheese grits, toast, coffee, juice
___Pancakes w/blueberries, coffee, juice
___Cereals with fresh fruit, coffee, juice
___Mexican scrambled egg burrito with beans, tomato and cheese, coffee
___French toast and bacon, coffee, juice
Lunches (Please select 4)
___Hamburgers, chips, grapes
___Tuna salad, sliced veggies and dip
___BP & J w/banana sandwiches
___Large Greek salad w/shrimp
___Greek yogurt topped with fresh fruit and honey, toast
___Old fashioned grilled cheese sandwiches, spinach salad
Dinners (Please select 4)
___Eggplant on pasta, cucumber salad
___Greek baked lemon chicken, potatoes, green beans, salad
___Fish, grits, succotash and salad
___Pork chops, apple sauce, slaw, cornbread
___Requests considered
Sky Blue 